Home » RANDORI AND THE UNIFICATION OF JUJUTSU DISCIPLINES BY THE KODOKAN

RANDORI AND THE UNIFICATION OF JUJUTSU DISCIPLINES BY THE KODOKAN

byKosuke NagakiAssistant ProfessorHyogo Educational University

Introduction

Under bujutsu, it is basic criterion to
question actual fighting performance capabilities as equal to its ability.
The goal of this article is to clarify the birth of different jujutsu
discipline and its branching out as well as to clarify the path to
unification of such disciplines under the efforts of the Kodokan and
explain the principle of free competition under the merit system as well as to further contemplate the reasons and meanings of randori.

Birth of different jujutsu disciplines and
merit system

The basic forms of jujutsu disciplines were
formed in Sengoku Era (between 1477 to 1573) and were further modified
in
the early stages of the Edo era (between 1600 to 1650). Such form, of
disciplines (ryu), included Sekiguchi-ryu Takeuchi-ryu Yoshin-ryu and
Kito-ryu and were widely utilized by the different clans the Edo era and
were continued to the Meiji era ( around 1868). These disciplines
are
considered the main original forms of jujutsu. Master Jigoro Kano whom
established the Kodokan in 1868, studied Tenshinmayo-ryu and Kito-ryu
which are a branch form of the Yoshin-ryu and from these two main
disciplines he was able to learn the essence or jujutsu.

Ryu-ha (form of disciplines and group) is a
formal organization and its main purpose is to access technique.
Conditions for existence of such organizations can be described as:
emergence of genius like expert or master, techniques are
systematized, practice methods between teacher and student are
established. Also the head of such a ryu-ha must obviously be a master
in his technique and ability. Where disciples are to be ranked (rank
documents issued) the disciples ability were considered first. Other
than ability, other considerations were given to age, blood relation,
obligation, contribution and donations.

The basis for selection under ability has
basically ascended from the prior years or war between the different clans
when actual battle did take place and where actual fighting ability was
highly regarded as the basis of bujutsu. In addition, the originators of
such disciplines as the Sekiguchi-ryu and Takeuchi-ryu as well as the
other oriental discipline groups had always traveled throughout the
country in search of the best talent and through such actual battles were
able to further formalize the ryu-ha involved. As such, ability being the
center of focus was natural.

Free competition between the different
disciplines (ryu-ha)

Throughout the mid-Edo era, several ryu-ha's
were formed into organizations as well as several branch disciplines.
The
social dynamics of the time for such an event to take place is said to
be the structure of Bakuhan (Shogunate-Clan structure). Under this
structure,
the clan's military power was under control and supervision of the
shogunate, however such military strengths and methods were kept highly
secret. As such, each clan was able to choose the discipline type
of the
bujutsu form, and the selected discipline was considered as belonging to
the clan and not the individual. In addition, agreements of the bujutsu
master and the clan were for only one generation and there were no
guarantees that the clan would continue to use the same discipline after
the agreement was fulfilled. In such conditions it was impossible
for one
type of discipline to spread throughout the country and for the most part,
one clan/one discipline was the norm and this trend spread rapidly.
Reportedly, fifty-eight clans and the type of discipline utilized, found
that eighty percent of the clans were the sole users of one type of
discipline from the sixtyeight types available at the time.

The clan leader obviously searched for a highly
skilled master (teacher) for his clan, and the jujutsu master had to
market his technique as original and superior to others. It is considered
that as a jujutsu-master being contracted by a clan had the most monetary
stability and status and such a position was sought out by most jujutsu
masters of that time.

From such climates free competition between
different disciplines occurred and from the original few types of
discipline that were available in the early Edo era (1600-1650), the
number grew to approximately 200 discipline types by the end of the Edo
era (1800-1868). It is said that over 750 discipline types existed
for
Kenjutsu (sword display). Reportedly, most of the new disciplines were
for one clan only, however, all the new disciplines were bi-products
of
the
original discipline and its influence was obvious. Where they did not give
such discipline the original name and rather gave it a name of its
own as
well as its own structure is an example of the jujutsu climate of the
time, where the original discipline was modified due to free will or by
necessity.

As a matter of fact, frequently a dissatisfied
highly ranked disciple would move away from the original discipline
studied and take up a new discipline or make a new discipline and
undertake action on his own. Especially during the mid Edo era, there were
many jujutsu experts whom would study two or even three types of
disciplines.

As for the masters of the several different
disciplines, they always attempted to keep their form of discipline
(technique and spirit) a secret and would force the discipline to secrecy
as not to teach outside the discipline group. However such attempts would
be only in form, and were not able to be actually enforced. Even on a
personal level, the merit system would be in place and made the free
competition flourish further.

Signs of consolidation of disciplines in the
later stages of the Edo era

On the other hand, during the mid to late Edo
era, known as the "tahei no yo" period, most bujutsu starts to depart from
the actual fighting scene and would become more of an art form. Each group
started to exemplify the need for spiritual principles, and for a short
time enters a more extreme and self-satisfying era where technique based
ability was less important.

However, in the later part of the Edo era, due
to the threat from overseas and several riots from the farmers, the
shogunate itself started to promote bujutsu and the discipline groups
would start to reflect its own actual fighting capabilities once again.
In such climate, interdiscipline matches would become popular. At
the time,
the technical contents of the jujutsu disciplines were basically taught
and passed on by "Kata" (form). "Kata" was based on actual fighting
techniques and were patterned and served well in the teachings between
master and disciple. "Kata" utilized were dependent on the level of the
disciple and for the advanced a high level "kata" could be taught and
the master could know how far the disciple has progressed with this patterned
"kata" method. In addition, this method was suited to leave such
information to later generations in its original form. However, at times
where "beauty" was pursued it became more artificial and this was
considered dangerous as it would distance itself from the basic
requirement of bujutsu which is actual fighting capability. As such. there
were no alternative methods to determine which disciplines were superior
other than the inter-discipline matches.

Many of the discipline groups had sworn their
students not to engage in fighting with other discipline types. However,
this only exemplifies the fact that there was lust for fighting other
disciplines among the students. They would like to know their true
capability by fighting other discipline groups.

With such events the basic "actual fighting
capability" would return in the form of "inter-discipline matches" which
fueled the free competition amongst the discipline types of that time.
From the viewpoint of "actual fighting capability", consolidation of the
overly fractionalized discipline types can be started to be
seen.

Unification by Kodokan

When Kodokan Judo was established in
1877, it was one of the discipline forms in the world of jujutsu.
From the end of the Edo era to the early parts of the Meiji era (circa
1850-1880) jujutsu as a whole was suffering. However the main discipline
types still remained and the police as well as the town dojos (martial
art
halls) and schools each taught jujutsu on their own. The Kodokan taught
mainly school students through its higher ranking disciples but were
still
on the level of other discipline groups as an organization. The greatest
chance for the Kodokan to establish itself came when the "Dainihon
Butokukai" (herein referred to as Butokukai) established in 1890,
and its implementation of rules and regulations for the jujutsu
matches in 1899
and regulations for "jujutsu-kata" established in 1906. Butokukai was
established as the governing body of the different types of bujutsu by
high ranking government officials, military personnel and policeman to
"maintain the samurai spirit" in the Meiji era and the new government
system it brought to that era. The Kodokan was an original member from
the era and the commencement of the organization occurred in 1905, Master
Kano
received the degree of jujutsu master of the governing body after
yoshinryu's Hidemi Tozuka and Shiten-ryu's Kumon Hoshino. He also acted
as committee chairman of regulatory committee for the judging and
regulation pursuant to the matches and kata disciplinary. In the committee
the main ryu-ha and its masters were present and heated discussions took
place but in the end, the methods that the Kodokan had already been
utilizing were generally selected.

The main reason behind this is general
acceptance was that master Kano was able to theoretically add value to
jujutsu in a physical education form. In 1889, master Kano had already
lectured on such contents at the Dainihon kyoikukai (Japan education
committee) under the title of "Judo and its Educational Value".

It is also viewed that this lecture was in
response to the ministry of education's adverse recommendation to the
physical education board based on its studies of "The appropriateness of
bujutsu being an educational material" which concluded that "bujutsu is
unsuitable for school education material" in 1883. The lecture is
separated into sections such as "Judo Physical Education", "How to Compete
with Judo" and "Judo and Mental (Spiritual) Development". However,
the Judo Physical Education section especially seeks new correlation's
between judo, physiology and safety.

Butokukai from its conception had mainly
recruited policeman as members, however after the initial years it changed
its direction toward school related personnel. This was an effort
to make
bujutsu enter into the classes of physical education. In later years,
Butokukai established "School of bujutsu" to build a basis for educational
personnel. In summary, both the Kodokan and Butokukai were very similar
to
in its quest for jujutsu to become a modern sport in the new era. As it
is well known, Master Kano was not only an established jujutsu expert,
but also an elite who lead the educational and cultural changes of that
time period. The Butokukai recognize Master Kano as the most appropriate
selection to lead. As time progressed other famous jujutsu experts all
agreed to master Kano's thoughts on Judo's acceptance as a modem physical
educational sport and gradually were absorbed and unified under the
master's vision. It can be said that under the stipulations and criterion
under the government's organizing body Butokukai, the Kodokan unified
the
jujutsu sector of the organization.

Significance of randori under
unification

In addition to the ability to stipulate theory,
Kodokan judo actually integrates theory with actual performance (actual
fighting) and this was its principle point. This is well displayed at the
Kodokan's performance in the "randori method". Opponents each seeking
to make "waza" (technique moves to each other. This randori was also
utilized by other jujutsu disciplines but Kano's theory to randor was
"safety", physical strength development and balanced development" as well
as "enticing interest in the student". It is widely known that even as
such. safety was especially prioritized and "atemi (hitting)" and "hand
and toes and it joints" as well as "wrist and ankle" targeted "wazas
(techniques)" were excluded. If there were a no-rule bujutsu match the
loser would either be injured or in the worst case, even die. As such, a
no-rule actual fighting would never be accepted in a physical educational
structure. (By this stand point, the "kata" formed in the Edo era can be
said to be useful.) In the lecture mentioned earlier, "Judo and its
Educational Value", master Kano actually demonstrated in front of the
attendees randori utilizing young men and said, "As you can see and
understand, it is not dangerous and it is very good exercise for the body,
and mind".

By these methods, the significance of randori
is that it enabled the individual to test his actual fighting capabilities
and techniques freely. In other words, randori guarantees "freedom"
within the stipulated rules. This also has similarities of modern sports
and its free competition style which were born and spread throughout the
world by England in the later part of the 19th century. As Kangawa
expresses "The conception of the Judo physical education method not only
adds qualitative properties to jujutsu but also the physical randori
method brought judo to the modern sporting competition scene. Hence, the
development in Japan and internationalization of the Kodokan can be
directly attributed to this reason." In summary, the unification of the
different disciplines were made possible by making jujutsu a free
competition sport, based on safety.

In fact, in the multi-discipline jujutsu
matches where the Kodokan was competing, the randori
really revealed its strength. For example, at the
bujutsu competition held at the police headquarters in 1885, it is said
that the Kodokan dominated the Tozuka-group Yoshin-ryu who were the main
powerhouse at the time. These matches were held to determine the jujutsu
master for the police headquarters as well as to determine the real
ability of the different discipline types. According to the notes of
Hajime Isogai, most of the "wazas" utilized in this tournament were
ashibarai, kouchigari, hizaguruma. ouchigari and kaeshi waza, basically
known as kowaza (small waza) and this light footed but perfected action
dominated the osotogari and newaza utilized by the Tozuka group
Yoshin ryu. It proved that not only tenacity but the fast body action and
movement is the most required necessity for Kodokan Judo. The fast body
action and movement can only be developed through free randori practice
and this shows that the Kodokan had already been employing randori in
its practice methods at that time.

In the later years, the Kodokan continues to
demonstrate its dominance in the bujutsu matches held by the police
headquarters, unfortunately the rules of such matches have never been
made
clear. The rules are clarified for the first time in 1899 when Butokukai
rules and regulations are established and with similar stipulations,
the
Kodokan judo randori matches regulations in 1900. However. due to the
matches in 1880. it was decided by either nagewaza (throwing techniques)
or newaza (ground work techniques), it can be assumed that the dangerous
"atemi waza" as well as the "kansetsu waza" (jointlocking techniques)
were already excluded and more emphasis on safety had been in place. It
is highly possible that the rules and regulations or modified version of
the
Kodokan's randori were utilized for such public matches as safety is
the foremost important criteria of such events. As such, since the
disciples of the Kodokan were already engaging in randori, they had the
distinct advantage.

In this way, not only by theory, but also the
randori methods of "actual fighting capability" of the Kodokan gradually
gains acceptance and makes further advances to the unification of the
jujutsu world.

Summary

As explained, the Kodokan's randori enabled
the different types of disciplines to engage in matches and compete
when
Jujitsu was in its unification period and functionally served a major
role. In addition, the basis was "safety", "enhancement of strength" and
"interest" which are values required for modern sports. With randori the
free competition principles of judo have been unified and are now spreading
its stage to the international community and like other sports, are able
to enjoy the everlasting free competition.

However, as we all know, the judo that Master
Kano sought does not end with randori. The time has progressed from modern
time to post modern and beginning with the financial world, all fields are
now moving towards "Competition to Coexistence". This notion of
coexistence is also expressed by Master Kano as "Jita Kyoei" (self/others
coexist and flourish) in the judo language form, and this ideology should
be utilized in modern judo.

This article was published in December 1998 and distributed by Judo Research
and Development Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CA. This web page is provided by JudoInfo.com, USA. Last modified December 1, 2003.

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